Winter Wonderland

We enjoyed our first snow this past weekend.  It started early Sunday morning and did not stop until early Monday morning.  It would have been the perfect date night in with some hot chocolate and a Christmas movie, but instead I had to venture out on the slick roads to tend to the babies at work.  Besides skidding through a red light and sliding off the road just once, I made it without a problem.  

Driving to work in the snow (probably not the best time to be taking a picture).

The snow stuck around on the ground for a few days so I was able to get a picture of Hank in it.   

Cute boy in his sweater.

The roads are slick again as it is now sleeting.   What a cold, wintry wonderland kind of December it has been!  I don’t know about you…. But I am dreaming of a white Christmas. 

MOM's B-day!

Sending you lots of warm wishes for a very Happy Birthday!  Wish we could be there to celebrate with you. We love you!  XOXOX

Holiday Cheer

I LOVE this time of year!

Thankful

Our table setting~ thanks to our wonderful family and friends wedding gifts :)

Thanksgiving was my holiday to work this year.  Not only Thanksgiving night, but the night before and after.  No Thanksgiving dinner or Alabama/ Auburn football game watching with the hubby this year.  Everybody has to take their turn and this year it was mine.  The night before Thanksgiving was a long and busy one at work.  And although I missed George and Hank so very much, I felt extremely thankful.  Thankful for the wonderful friendships I have made at work, thankful for the sweet babies and their families that I adore taking caring of, thankful to have my loving husband and sweet pup to come home to after a long night. So, when the Charge Nurse told me that my name had been the first one drawn to be called off for Thanksgiving, thankful does not even describe how I felt.  George and I were so blessed to be able to spend our first Thanksgiving together as husband and wife, and it will be one that I will remember and cherish forever.  

Yes!

2 years ago, George got down on one knee and made me the happiest girl in the world when he asked for my hand in marriage.  

Right after the proposal

Last year, we decided that we would make it a yearly tradition to visit the site of our engagement.

Celebrating 1 year of being engaged

This past weekend, we kept the tradition going....

Celebrating 6 months of marital bliss and 2 years since George popped the question.

Settling In...

We are finally getting settled into our new home.  The third bedroom still looks like a bomb has gone off, but we have definitely come a long way since we moved in.   Here are a few things that really make our place feel like home...

Henry is settling in too!  And the crate training is going great. :)

We had our bed delivered today, and I am so in love. 

 More pictures to come as we ever so slowly continue to settle in. Hope everyone is having a fabulous week!

For the Working Wife....

Night shift presents a ton of lifestyle challenges that even after 4 years, I am still trying to figure out.  One challenge I think I have finally conquered involves cooking meals.  Sometimes, when I wake up for work (when most people are getting home from work), the last thing I want to do is prepare dinner.  I try my best to be a good wife and have dinner ready for my husband when he strolls in from his long day. I am sure that many working wives can sympathize with that.  Crock pot dinners are the perfect solution. When I get home from work (when most people are waking up), I combine all the ingredients, toss ‘em in the slow cooker, and venture off to sleep (for most, off to work).  Wake up (get home) and voila, dinner is ready.  There is nothing better than waking up (or coming home ) to the smell of a delicious, ready-to-serve meal.   One of my favorite, super easy recipes is from a cookbook that I highly recommend, ‘Fix-it and Forget-it, Slow Cooker Magic’.   

Tasty Pork Tenderloins

1 Pork Tenderloin

12 oz. Jar Chili Sauce

16 oz. Can Jellied Cranberry Sauce

2 Tbsp. Brown Sugar

Place tenderloin in slow cooker. Combine all ingredients and pour over tenderloin. Cover and cook on high 1 hour and low 3 hours.  Remove pork, slice, and drizzle with remaining sauce from slow cooker.  Pair with wild rice and garnish with cranberries and rosemary, if desired.   

If you cannot preset your slow cooker to certain heats and times, then cook on low 6-8 hours.  

Delicious and so easy!